Catamenial bandage support



Dec. 26, 1961 0. CASE CATAMENIAL BANDAGE SUPPORT Filed April 10, 1957 ORAL CASE em m Agent .ar a

United The invention relates to catamenial bandage supports; a principal object of the invention being to provide a device of this character which is capable of functioning efficiently with minimal discomfort (e.g. chafing) to the wearer.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device of this character which will adapt itself to the ordinary postures of the wearer without slipping out of place.

A still further and important object of the invention is to provide a device of the aforesaid character which has no bulky parts capable of discernment or recognition through the clothing of the wearer.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a support which is of such simple and economical construction as to render it expediently disposable after use.

A still further and important object of the invention is to provide a support constructed according to a concept which permits the utilization of a highly elastic component substance therein which, in turn, endows it with a pronounced tendency to cling "to the body of the wearer substantially throughout and, at the same time, permits one size of support to fit all average frames.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a support of the character contemplated having a limited number of parts; the belt and bandage supporting portions thereof being constitutedby different areas of the same part.

The foregoing objects of the invention and others which will hereinafter appear are largely achieved by employing an endless band as -a belt for clasping a human form,

suspenders for the bandage, and furthermore as releasable snares by which the bandage is captured; means being also provided for zoning the said band into the foregoing parts and for proportioning them according to specific needs; said means being further adapted to co-operate in provid-' ing the releasable snares aforesaid as will appear from the hereinafter following description of the elements, parts and principles constituting the invention which is illustrated by way of example only in the hereunto annexed drawing wherein like reference devices refer to like parts of-the invention throughout the several views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the instant band.

FIG. 2, an enlarged view of a fragment of the band appearing in FIG. 1 in association with a band zoning means.

FIG. 3, a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the eifects of tension on the band.

FIG. 4, a phantom elevational view of a human trunk with the instant bandage support in position thereon.

FIG. 5, an e-levational view of a snare of the invention in position to capture the end of a catamenial bandage.

FIG. 6, a view corresponding to FIG. 5 showing said bandage end captured, and

FIG. 7, a view of an alternative means for zoning the band aforesaid and for co-operating in snaring the bandage.

In one of its best forms, the bandage support of the invention comprises a band 2 which is formed of an elastic substance. To facilitate this description ofthe invention, said band 2 is herein contemplated as being formed of two halvesthe cords 33whose ends are linked and joined at loops 4-4.

Said cords 3-3 are threaded through a series of, say, four grippers 5 which are spaced apart on the band 2 3,@14,482 Patented Dec. :26, 1961 ice to bound and define an intermediate belt zone 6, bandage suspenders 7-7, and bandage snares 8-8.

Each gripper 5 has at least one aperture 9 through which the cords 3-3 are threaded and the respective elements are so dimensioned that the said cords 3-3 are normally clamped and frictionally retained by the grippers 5. However, since the component substance of the cords 33 is elastic, they will tend to attenuate under tension, thus breaking the frictional hold of the grippers 5 thereon and. permitting the latter 'to slide relatively freely thereover. The cords 3-3 will, of course, revert to normal thickness when the tension is relaxed as in FIG. 2.

In this way, the appropriate grippers 5-5 which are intermediate in the series aforesaid may be moved relative to each other to vary the dimensions of the belt zone 6; the cords 33' contained between the grippers 5'--5 and comprehended in said belt zone 6, being consequently separable and stretchable to encircle and clasp -a human form as in FIG. 4.

The gripper 5 which is next adjacent the loop 4 may also be moved along the strands which it clamps to contract it into a snare for a catamenial bandage B shown in FIG. 6 or, conversely, to expand and relax it and thus procure the release of said bandage B substantially as illustrated in FIG. 5.

The specific gripper 5 preferred in this disclosure is the short stub sleeve illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6 inclusive; two of the major properties thereof being its frictional characteristics on the one hand, and its flatness on the other hand which renders it almost entirely indiscernible in use.

Nevertheless, it is acknowledged that other devices such as the button 10 of FIG. 7 may also serve the present purpose with equal or, at any rate, satisfactory efficiency. This button it as will be noticed, has a central aperture 11 which is divided by a bar 12; the cords 3-3 being threaded through both halves of said aperture 11 and over the bar 12. This element too, it will be further noticed, meets the requirements of flatness and friction in somewhat the same manner as the sleeve 5.

It will also be apparent that, while elastic cord is a preferred substance for the entire band 2 of the present invention, the inventive idea herein expressed does not depend wholly thereon for its success; the choice of elastic cord throughout this embodiment being dictated and preferred for-the sake of, convenience and facility of construction. Thus, it will be apparent, that the specific construction of the invention as herein disclosed may be varied or modified without departure from the inventive idea as expressed in the following claims wherein the true scope of the invention is defined.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A catamenial bandage support comprising a pair of cords; grippers clamping said cords together at intervals providing belt and suspender zones, and loops linking said cords in said suspender zones and forming them into a continuous band; said grippers being movable along said cords to vary the dimensions of said zones and also to co-operate with said loops to form snares fora catamenial bandage.

2. The catamenial bandage support set forth in claim 1 wherein said cords are formed of an elastic substance the said cords are separable to surround and clasp a human form.

4. A catarnenial bandage support comprising a pair of cords; a series of short sleeves through which said cords are slida-bly threaded and wherein they are frietionally retained, and loops linking said cords and forming theni into a continuous band; said sleeves p-roportioning said band into belt and suspender zones and co-operating also with said loops to provide releasable snares for a catamenial bandage.

5. The catamenial bandage support set forth in claim 4 wherein said cords are formed of an elastic substance which reversibly attenuates under tension to permit th said sleeves to slide relatively freely thereon. a

6. A catarnenial bandage support comp-rising a pair of 15 cords; a pair of grippers clamping said cords at intervals and being slidable therealong to define and Proportion a belt and two suspenders; loops at the free ends of said suspenders, and a further gripper clamping each said Suspender and being slidable therealong in one direction to contract said loop to snare a bandage and in the other direction to expand said loop to release said bandage therefrom.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 869,285 Wilson Oct.'29, 1907 2,091,018 Sivyer Aug. 24, 1937 2,536,796 Casey et a1. Jan. 2, 1951 2,632,219 Massey Mar. 24, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 263,144 Switzerland Nov. 1, 1949 

